Monday, September 22, 2008

What’s it like to be a…Horticulture Therapy Program Manager?

My actual position is: Horticultural Therapist – I DO it, not just manage it. I also manage – motivate and encourage – volunteers.

What does a normal day look like? Is it consistent throughout the year? If you’ve had this position for a while, how have things changed?
There is no normal day. Every day is full of surprises because the 24 female alcohol and drug rehab clients have multiple diagnoses, including mental health issues. They are young in terms of development, angry, ashamed, and reactive. HT is activity driven – the activities will vary by week and season. In the setting with veterans, each day is different because the clients are different day to day in terms of pain, fears, medical concerns, and the “mood” of the facility which varies day to day.